Oil-rich Venezuela going broke?

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Hugo Chavez's health mystery

The lack of information has fueled widespread speculation about his health and political future.

Last year, Chavez had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, and has undergone further surgery and radiation in Cuba since. He declared himself cancer-free in July.

Health rumors dogged Chavez on the campaign trail this year, but didn't stop him from winning re-election in October.

Chavez returned to Cuba this month to undergo another surgery after publicly revealing his cancer had returned.

He underwent a six-hour surgical procedure on December 11 that Maduro declared a success in a televised address.

Last week, the country's information minster said Chavez was battling a respiratory infection. Minister Ernesto Villegas said then that the infection was controlled.

Last week, Villegas and another top government official struck a somber tone when discussing the president's illness. Villegas has suggested Chavez might not be not be back in Venezuela in time for his inauguration scheduled for next month.